MARGAO
The Aam Aadmi Party’s fresh salvo at the Congress over the defection of MLAs to the BJP has once again brought the Goa Forward Party (GFP) under the spotlight, with the Congress questioning the regional party’s alliance with the AAP under the banner of “Goa First”.
Goa Pradesh Congress Committee (GPCC) chief Girish Chodankar had a day ago questioned the Goa Forward leadership over banners under the Goa First campaign that portray the Congress for cheating the electorate. On Sunday, Congress working president Sunil Kawthankar stepped up the attack, seeking to know whether the GFP agrees with the AAP’s latest jibe at the Congress.
Interestingly, instead of directly retaliating against the AAP, the Congress has chosen to target the Goa Forward Party, a move that sources describe as an attempt by the principal Opposition party to put the regional outfit in a spot.
The issue stems from GFP chief Vijai Sardesai’s call for a “grand alliance” of Opposition parties, including the Congress, following the backlash over the Goa First alliance stitched up between the GFP and AAP. However, the Goa First banners portraying the Congress as a party of “cheaters” have still not been removed.
“That is precisely why the GPCC chief has questioned the Goa Forward Party. If the regional party is keen on a grand alliance of Opposition parties, including the Congress, then why do the Goa First banners continue to portray the Congress as cheaters?” sources said.
Sources said the Congress’ questions are not entirely without basis, pointing out the apparent contradiction between Sardesai’s openness to continuing an alliance with the Congress and the messaging on the Goa First banners.
Kawthankar’s request to the GFP leadership, particularly his demand for the regional party’s response to the AAP’s “ek kachori, do samosa” jibe, is being seen as another attempt by the Congress to force the Goa Forward Party to clarify its position.
The Congress appears keen to know whether the GFP wants to continue its alliance with the principal Opposition party or go the upcoming polls with AAP under the Goa First banner.
